Update March 2024
After a very long layoff, I have now completed a further layout in a box …Kidmore Halt. This will almost certainly be my last.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT INVITE LAYOUT COMMISSIONS, ALTHOUGH I DO SELL LAYOUTS ON EBAY ONCE I AM TIRED OF THEM ! LAYOUTS SOLD ARE ALSO LISTED BELOW.
Exhibition Managers who wish to book a layout, please either use the contact page at the end of the site or email [email protected]. Currently I have a choice of five exhibition layouts in HO and 00 gauges.
The Web pages of a "Layoutaholic" !
"I have no sympathy for the model railroader who says he has no room for a layout. There is always room for a layout. It may not be the railroad of your dreams, but it can be something on which you can operate some of your rolling stock." Chuck Yungkurth, Model Railroader Magazine,
April 1966.
"I have no sympathy for the model railroader who says he has no room for a layout. There is always room for a layout. It may not be the railroad of your dreams, but it can be something on which you can operate some of your rolling stock." Chuck Yungkurth, Model Railroader Magazine,
April 1966.
Kidmore Model Railways
Having found an interest in model railways on retirement, I concluded that the space constraints of modern houses were not conducive to large model railways unless one could afford a loft conversion. I couldn't. Looking at several options within the model press & on the Net, I decided that rather than a single permanent layout, variety could be achieved and potential construction boredom alleviated, with small self contained examples. These are generally referred to as "Micro Layouts" or "Field of View Layouts". Such layouts provide the advantage of portability, a boon when invited to exhibitions, and variety given that a different approach / theme may be levied with each new build. I originally concentrated on N Gauge (2mm) thereby ensuring that a lot could be modelled in a relatively small footprint when compared with OO gauge equivalents; the latter invariably requiring at least 150% more footprint. Irrespective of scale modelled, my layouts are usually five square feet or less allowing both easy transportation by car and storage.
These pages detail the construction of my layouts. At least fifteen layouts have so far been exhibited whilst four have been published; details on their respective pages. My first OO Gauge layout had its initial public airing in 2014 & this was followed in 2015 by a second build. A third & fourth were both completed in 2016.
Layouts in both Z & O gauges have also been built but both gauges have left me uninspired, although a fresh & more successful attempt at Z was completed in 2016; sold in 2018.
I frequently sell off layouts (twenty six or more to date) once storage space has been exceeded & I need to make room for a new build.
CURRENT EXHIBITION LAYOUTS
These pages detail the construction of my layouts. At least fifteen layouts have so far been exhibited whilst four have been published; details on their respective pages. My first OO Gauge layout had its initial public airing in 2014 & this was followed in 2015 by a second build. A third & fourth were both completed in 2016.
Layouts in both Z & O gauges have also been built but both gauges have left me uninspired, although a fresh & more successful attempt at Z was completed in 2016; sold in 2018.
I frequently sell off layouts (twenty six or more to date) once storage space has been exceeded & I need to make room for a new build.
CURRENT EXHIBITION LAYOUTS
"Kidmore Halt”. …..yet another micro in a wrapping paper box.
"Kidmore TMD” : OO gauge DCC green diesel era Traction Maintenance Depot.
"The Kidmore Fork": an HO scale North American DCC inglenook layout measuring 48" x 8". Originally built for personal home use, scrapped & reborn as "The Kidmore Fork v2" & extended to 50" x !2". NOT CURRENTLY FOR SALE
"Kidmore Boxed & Extension" : a micro 00 layout created in two wrapping paper boxes.
Kidmore Yard End : a very micro OO gauge offering.
LAYOUTS NOW SOLD
"Kidmore Coalhouse" - 00 gauge coal loading depot.
“Kidmore Valley Railroad” - layout in a storage box permitting either HO or 00 stock.
"Kidmore Shortline" - American N Gauge
"Kydmoor Light Railway" - 009 roundy
"Dark End" - an OO gauge micro showing the rundown terraces behind the railway sidings.
”Kidmore Magna” - published in Railway Modeller magazine.
‘ Kidmore Cutting” - N gauge two tier micro.
"Kidmore Lane - Brampton Branch" : an OO gauge DCC layout featuring an East Midlands industrial site.
"Kydmoor Bottom" : a tiny 009 end to end.
"Quarry End": a combined 009 and 00 gauge layout featuring the interchange sidings of a quarry.
"Kidmore TMD": N gauge diesel traction maintenance depot.
"Kidmore Creek": N Gauge North America in the Fall.
"The Bridge": 00 gauge diesel refuelling site.
"Puddle Dock" : generic UK / USA micro.
"KZ": a tiny Z gauge tail chaser.
"Kidmore Abbass" : 009 gauge.
"Kidmorton" : N Gauge, fully automated.
"Kidmore Halt" : OO gauge
"Kidmorehill", OO gauge.
"KydmorZ Mountain Railway" , Z Gauge
"Kidmore Little", O Gauge
"Kidmore Vale", N Gauge
"Kidmore End", N Gauge. Layout based on an old Railway Modeller track plan.
"Kidmore Yard", layout published in the N Gauge Society Journal.
"KydmorZ Lakeside", N Gauge
"Kidmore Depot", N Gauge
"Kidmoreham", OO Gauge
Kidmore Gumstump" , Layout published in the N Gauge Society Journal.
"Kidmore TMD” : OO gauge DCC green diesel era Traction Maintenance Depot.
"The Kidmore Fork": an HO scale North American DCC inglenook layout measuring 48" x 8". Originally built for personal home use, scrapped & reborn as "The Kidmore Fork v2" & extended to 50" x !2". NOT CURRENTLY FOR SALE
"Kidmore Boxed & Extension" : a micro 00 layout created in two wrapping paper boxes.
Kidmore Yard End : a very micro OO gauge offering.
LAYOUTS NOW SOLD
"Kidmore Coalhouse" - 00 gauge coal loading depot.
“Kidmore Valley Railroad” - layout in a storage box permitting either HO or 00 stock.
"Kidmore Shortline" - American N Gauge
"Kydmoor Light Railway" - 009 roundy
"Dark End" - an OO gauge micro showing the rundown terraces behind the railway sidings.
”Kidmore Magna” - published in Railway Modeller magazine.
‘ Kidmore Cutting” - N gauge two tier micro.
"Kidmore Lane - Brampton Branch" : an OO gauge DCC layout featuring an East Midlands industrial site.
"Kydmoor Bottom" : a tiny 009 end to end.
"Quarry End": a combined 009 and 00 gauge layout featuring the interchange sidings of a quarry.
"Kidmore TMD": N gauge diesel traction maintenance depot.
"Kidmore Creek": N Gauge North America in the Fall.
"The Bridge": 00 gauge diesel refuelling site.
"Puddle Dock" : generic UK / USA micro.
"KZ": a tiny Z gauge tail chaser.
"Kidmore Abbass" : 009 gauge.
"Kidmorton" : N Gauge, fully automated.
"Kidmore Halt" : OO gauge
"Kidmorehill", OO gauge.
"KydmorZ Mountain Railway" , Z Gauge
"Kidmore Little", O Gauge
"Kidmore Vale", N Gauge
"Kidmore End", N Gauge. Layout based on an old Railway Modeller track plan.
"Kidmore Yard", layout published in the N Gauge Society Journal.
"KydmorZ Lakeside", N Gauge
"Kidmore Depot", N Gauge
"Kidmoreham", OO Gauge
Kidmore Gumstump" , Layout published in the N Gauge Society Journal.
Unless attributed otherwise, all photographic images contained within this Website copyright David J Mitchell, LRPS.